Sioux Falls family provides 90 years of service to city streets

The Putziers have walked the halls of the city street department for several decades.Monte, Charlie and Michael have a combined 90 years of experience working for the city of Sioux Falls. Monte, now in his 80’s started driving heavy equipment for the city in 1965. He says the motor graders he drove, or blades as he calls them, were pretty basic.

Officials consider $70K fence to improve safety, site

“Two of the blades didn’t have power steering, you had to muscle them around corners and stuff.” said Monte said pointing to his bicep.

Monte’s son Charlie is the city’s Street Maintenance Supervisor.
And Monte’s grandson Michael is an equipment operator with 9 years under his belt. Monte says seeing Michael carry on the family legacy makes him feel…

“Proud, only grandson I got. Proud to see him able to do what we done and enjoy it,” said Monte.

The pride extends to the reason Michael carries on the family tradition, something instilled in him at a young age.

“I like the feeling that like we are helping people get where they need to go, we are accomplishing something that everyone wants you to do. You are making everyone else’s life easier by doing the hard stuff,” said Michael.

We followed Charlie around in 1997 as he was plowing the streets, that’s him inside the cab. He is now passing on the lessons he learned from his dad.

“He always made sure that I did it correctly and the right way and and now I do the same thing to mine, to make sure he does it correctly and the right way,” said Charlie.

Michael admits there is a lot of satisfaction that comes with carrying on the family tradition. Will there be a 4th generation of Putziers plowing the streets of Sioux Falls?

“A work in progress,” said Michael. “Never say never.”